Cascades Hall Sustainability Audit Report
Audited: October 21, 2009
Submitted: December 7, 2009
Audit performed by: Greg Smith, Brandon Trelstad
Building contacts: Sandie Franklin, Matt Shinderman
This report contains observations of Cascades Hall and recommendations to enable building occupants to
make their workspace and processes more sustainable. These recommendations aim to respect the unique
nature of each space while encouraging occupants to make changes that will reduce environmental
impacts.
If you have any questions or comments regarding the format, observations or recommendations of this
energy audit, do not hesitate to write or call: greg.smith@oregonstate.edu or 737-3307. Other staff or
departments interested in receiving a Sustainability Audit are also welcome to contact the email and
phone number listed above. Thank you for your time and participation.
Recommendation Summary
Table 1: Recommended Energy Conservation Measures
Conservation Measure
Replace all incandescent lamps with CFLs.
Estimated impact is 7 lamps.
Annual Energy
Savings (est.)
Annual $
Implementation
Savings
Cost (est.)
(est.)
Simple
Payback
(ye ars)
360 kWh
$17.14
$27.50
1.6
Install occupancy sensor and delamp NE stairwell
fluorescent fixtures; est. impact is 4 fixtures
2,102 kWh
$100.10
$320.87
3.2
Install occupancy sensor and delamp fluorescent
fixtures in hallway outside rooms 209-213; est.
impact is 5 fixtures
2,628 kWh
$125.13
$350.87
2.8
Install occupancy sensors in men's and women's
restrooms; est. impact is 40 fixtures
1,296 kWh
$61.71
$188.70
3.0
Delamp vending machine fluorescent fixtures; est.
impact is 2 fixtures
841 kWh
$40.04
$60.00
1.5
Install occupancy sensors in entry, 1st floor and
2nd floor lobbies, and hallways throughout.
1,678 kWh
$79.88
$885.00
11.1
Replace 40W halogen track lights with energyefficient lighting (CFL, LED); impact is 27 lamps
3,796 kWh
$180.78
$2,500.00
13.8
Turn off or standby computers at night that
typically run 24/7; estimated impact is 20
computers
13,020 kWh
$651.00
$0.00
Immediate
Turn off classroom A/V towers at night that
typically run 24/7; estimated impact is 12 towers
2,734 kWh
$136.71
$0.00
Immediate
1
Turn off all printers at night that typically run 24/7;
estimated impact is 12 printers/copiers. Enable
standby & powersave modes.
3,841 kWh
Unplug (or switch-off using a surge protector ) all
small office equipment (cell phone chargers,
computer accessories, etc.) at night and when not
in use
676 kWh
Total savings if above changes are
implemented
32,973 kWh
$192.05
$33.80
$0.00
Avg. $3/power
strip;
Immediate
0.89
$30.00
$1,618.34
$4,362.94
2.7
By implementing the changes listed above 66,604 lbs of CO21, 428.6 lbs of SO22 and
224.2 lbs of NOx2 will not be emitted into the environment each year.
1- PacifiCorp; 2 - Phil Carver, Oregon Department of Energy
In addition to the savings in the table above, an estimated 31,200 gallons of water (utility savings of
$183.03) can be saved annually by installing aerators on all bathroom faucets. Estimated impact is 24
faucets.
To see data on Cascades Hall’s monthly utility consumption, please Tables 3 thru 8, located at the end of
this report.
Lighting
Observations
•
Lights were usually off in unoccupied areas
•
Some areas were overlit
•
A few spaces (detailed below) could benefit from light controls
Recommendations
•
Replace all incandescent lamps with compact fluorescent lamps (CFL). CFLs produce light
much more efficiently than incandescent and halogen lamps. CFLs also produce less heat, an
important factor to consider during the summer months. CFLs come in a wide-range of spectra
and intensities, so a suitable CFL can be found for almost any application.
•
Consider replacing the halogen track lighting with a compact fluorescent (CFL) or lightemitting diode (LED) equivalent if available.
•
Report instances of improperly-time outdoor lighting. Outdoor lighting is usually controlled
by either timers or photosensors. If these controls fail, lighting will remain on even if natural
light provides sufficient illumination.
2
•
Install occupancy sensors in common areas such as hallways, restrooms, kitchens and copy
rooms where lights are typically left on. These types of sensors are efficient and easy to install.
They automatically turn off the lights if no motion is detected within a specified period of time.
Lighting controls are recommended for the following spaces:
o Men’s and women’s restrooms
o NE stairwell and adjoining hallway
o Hallway outside of offices 209-213
Lighting controls are suggested for the following spaces, though installation may be more costly
and resulting savings lower than the spaces recommended above:
o Main entry/alcove
o 1st floor lobby
o 2nd floor North hallway
•
Request delamping for areas that are overlit or areas where natural or task lighting provides
sufficient illumination. Table 2 details areas that were noticeably overlit.
Table 2. Delamping Information
Location
Recorded
IES-recommended
lighting level (fc) lighting level (fc)
NE stairwell and adjoining hallway
Hallway outside office 209‐213
Vending machines*
45
42‐50
‐
20
20
‐
*Note: Contractual restrictions may apply
IES = Illumination Engineering Society
•
Utilize natural lighting wherever possible. In many cases, natural lighting provides sufficient
illumination for a variety of tasks. In locations where windows allow for enough light to enter the
work areas, turn off lighting as it is not needed. Also, by arranging spaces and furniture
throughout the building in a way that utilizes natural light to the maximum possible extent,
electric lighting use is decreased and occupants achieve superior lighting levels and consistency.
If necessary, use task lighting to supplement natural lighting.
•
Request replacement or delamping of burnt-out fluorescent lamps. Unlike incandescent
lamps, burnt-out fluorescents still consume energy. If the light level in the area is adequate
without the lamp lit, consider delamping the fixture.
Computers and peripherals
Observations
•
Some computers and monitors were observed on in unoccupied spaces
•
Some printers had standby/powersave settings enabled
•
Most computer peripherals (speakers, external hard drives etc) were on in unoccupied areas
3
Recommendations
•
Turn off or standby computers at night and have them enter standby when not in use for
extended periods of time (30 minutes or longer). Standby or shut off monitors that have been
inactive for 10 minutes.
o On most computers, power management options can be found under the Control Panel
(from Start Æ Settings Æ Control Panel). Click ‘Power Options’. Here you can
designate when your monitor or computer should enter standby.
o Turning a computer on and off does not damage its hardware like it once did. Most hard
disks are rated at 20,000 on/off cycles. If turned on/off once a day, it would take 55 years
to reach this rating number.
•
Turn off classroom A/V cabinets at night or during extended periods of inactivity if start-up
time is not prohibitively long.
•
Ensure that Sanyo projectors are running only when needed. Occasionally these were heard
operating when the room was unoccupied. According to the manufacturer, power draw could
range from 50-300W.
•
Manually turn off cathode-ray tube (CRT) monitors at night or during prolonged downtime
(10 minutes or longer). Older (pre-1995) CRTs consume considerable energy even while in
standby or sleep modes. In one case, we measured a 17” CRT using 58W while on and 45W in
standby. Turning them off (using the hard switch) guarantees that these monitors are not drawing
a large phantom load.
•
Purchase liquid crystal display (LCD) monitors when replacing CRT monitors or for new
workstations. LCDs use considerably less energy and cause less eye strain, and their slimmer
profile increases useable workspace. Consider EPEAT™ or Energy Star® certified products
(http://www.epeat.net/, http://www.energystar.gov/) which meet stringent energy-saving and
environmental criteria. .
•
Turn off printers at night (especially laser printers). Laser printers consume considerable
amounts of energy even while in standby mode; according to manufacturer’s specifications,
several laser printers inventoried during the audit consume over 60W while in standby! The
average standby power draw is 49W. If high volume printing is not necessary, recommend that
staff use inkjet printers, which typically use considerably less energy (<5W) when in standby.
•
Consolidate printers and copiers with help from Printing and Mailing Services. Printing
and Mailing assists departments in calculating costs associated with printers and copiers, and
estimating potential savings from device consolidation. Contact Cheryl Lyons for more
information or to schedule a free assessment. Several OSU departments have realized significant
savings from consolidation.
•
Use a surge protector for computer peripherals and other accessories. While many computer
peripherals like speakers, scanners and external hard drives do not use very much energy (<5W),
the accumulated energy consumption is significant. By having them all plugged in to a surge
protector, not only are they protected from fluctuations in current, they also can be easily shut off
at night or during extended periods of downtime.
4
•
Use laptops in place of desktops when appropriate. Laptops use considerably less energy than
a desktop (20-30 W vs. 100-150 W) and do not require an uninterruptible power supply. A laptop
docking station allows for desktop-like function while at work or at home while allowing the full
portability required of a laptop.
•
Decrease time at which copiers and printer enters power-save mode to 15 minutes.
Other Electrical Equipment
Observations
•
A number of refrigerators were observed
•
Numerous TVs, microwaves, coffeepots, air purifiers, and miscellaneous A/V equipment was
noted
Recommendations
•
Consider purchasing a variable air volume (VAV) fume hood for the art studio. VAV hoods
reduce air flow when the sash is closed, reducing the amount of conditioned air exhausted. While
more expensive initially, VAV hoods have been shown to have lower lifetime costs than constant
air volume (CAV) hoods. Also consider potential Energy Efficiency Center recommendations
regarding heat recovery for exhausted air.
•
Plug accessories into a surge protector so they can be easily shut off at night and on weekends.
Many of the accessories listed above require a constant power supply to power displays and
maintain system functions. While this phantom load is usually small for an individual piece of
equipment, the aggregate power consumption can be surprising. A surge protector is a safe and
convenient way to protect these devices while allowing the user a fast and simple way to shut
them off when they are not in use.
•
Consolidate contents of seldom-used refrigerators to reduce the number of total
refrigerators. Also consider consolidating the contents of mini-fridges into large, shared
refrigerators, which are more efficient. Small ‘mini’ refrigerators use between 200 to 300 kWh
annually. A new, full-sized refrigerator uses only about 600 kWh to cool a volume many times
greater.
•
Tips for efficient refrigerator and freezer use:
o Keep fridges 2” away from the wall and clean coils every 6 months
o Clean or replace gaskets on doors to maintain an effective seal
o Set refrigerator temperature to 40°F and freezer to 0°F
o Fill empty space with jugs of water in the fridge and blocks of ice in the freezer. This
minimizes the cooling loss of opening the fridge or freezer door.
•
Consider unplugging industrial and scientific equipment when not in use. A number of small
pieces of scientific equipment appeared to be always on. Small scientific equipment may not use
much electricity individually (5-25 W) but the cumulative impact can be significant.
5
Recycling
Observations
•
Paper and commingled recycling bins were present in various locations around the area
Recommendations
•
Ensure enough recycling bins are located to be convenient for all office occupants.
Purchasing
Recommendations
•
Consider Energy Star® products when replacing appliances and office equipment. These
products are typically 10-30% more efficient than non-rated models and the purchase price
difference is oftentimes negligible.
•
Consider EPEAT™ -certified computers and accessories when purchasing new equipment.
EPEAT™ evaluates products on a wide-range of environmental criteria, ranging from energy
consumption and materials to toxic content and end-of-life management.
•
Review Oregon Department of Administrative Services (DAS) Resource Conservation and
Sustainable Procurement and Internal Operations policies.
Paper Use
Recommendations
•
On all computers, set double-sided printing as the default setting for printers with this
capability.
•
Encourage printing on clean side of single-sided paper. Add small boxes near printers
containing this draft paper or leave a stack of this paper in printer bypass feeders.
•
Consider purchasing recycled paper with a high post-consumer content (50%+) for your
space. Recycled paper is compatible with all printers and costs only slightly (15%) more than
virgin material, while significantly reducing the environmental impacts of printing.
Heating & Cooling
Observations
• Some occupants complained of continually cold conditions, even during summer months
•
The Energy Efficiency Center (EEC) will evaluate energy efficiency measures related to HVAC
6
Recommendations
•
Consider alternatives to forced air space heaters. While effective in small, well-insulated
spaces with low ceilings, forced air space heaters are inefficient in areas where the warm air can
easily escape or rise above the occupied zone. Alternatives allow for equal comfort while using
significantly less energy. Radiant heaters use 100-200W, compared to 1500W for forced air
heaters, and users report increased comfort at lower air temperatures. Radiant heaters are also
preferred from a fire safety standpoint.
•
Try these energy-saving tips to keep yourself comfortable:
o Dress appropriately for the weather: wear light, breathable clothing in summer and layer
clothing during the winter
o Use fans instead of AC units, and radiant heaters (which heat you and not the air) instead
of space heaters
o Close shades or blinds during hot days (keeps heat out) and on cold nights (keeps heat in)
•
For more information regarding HVAC energy efficiency, please see the upcoming EEC
report.
Water Conservation
Observations
•
All hand washing sinks had aerators that limited flow to 2.0 gallons per minute (gpm)
Recommendations
•
Install aerators to limit flow on hand washing sinks to 1.0 gpm maximum. Unless a sink is
used for filling, 1.0 gpm is an adequate amount of water for hand washing while conserving
water.
•
Report leaking faucets to Facilities or Custodial staff. A leaking faucet with 30 drips per minute
can waste over a thousand gallons of water per year.
7
Table 3. Cascades Hall Electricity Consumption
60000
Electricity Consumption (kWh)
50000
40000
FY2006
FY2007
30000
FY2008
FY2009
20000
FY2010
10000
Jun
May
Apr
Mar
Feb
Jan
Dec
Nov
Oct
Sep
Jul
Aug
0
Table 4. Cascades Hall Electricity Cost
$4,000.00 $3,500.00 $3,000.00 $2,500.00 FY2007
$2,000.00 FY2008
FY2009
$1,500.00 FY2010
$1,000.00 $500.00 8
Jun
May
Apr
Mar
Feb
Jan
Dec
Nov
Oct
Sep
Aug
$‐
Jul
Cost ($)
FY2006
Table 5. Cascades Hall Natural Gas Consumption
4500
Natural Gas Consumption (therms)
4000
3500
3000
FY2006
2500
FY2007
FY2008
2000
FY2009
1500
FY2010
1000
500
Jun
May
Apr
Mar
Feb
Jan
Dec
Nov
Oct
Sep
Aug
Jul
0
Table 6. Cascades Hall Natural Gas Cost
$6,000.00 $5,000.00 $4,000.00 FY2007
$3,000.00 FY2008
FY2009
FY2010
$2,000.00 $1,000.00 9
Jun
May
Apr
Mar
Feb
Jan
Dec
Nov
Oct
Sep
Aug
$‐
Jul
Cost ($)
FY2006
Table 7. Cascades Hall Water Consumption
50000
45000
40000
Water Consumption (CF)
35000
30000
FY2006
FY2007
25000
FY2008
20000
FY2009
FY2010
15000
10000
5000
Jun
May
Apr
Mar
Feb
Jan
Dec
Nov
Oct
Sep
Aug
Jul
0
Table 8. Cascades Hall Water Cost
$900.00 $800.00 $700.00 FY2006
$500.00 FY2007
FY2008
$400.00 FY2009
FY2010
$300.00 $200.00 $100.00 10
Jun
May
Apr
Mar
Feb
Jan
Dec
Nov
Oct
Sep
Aug
$‐
Jul
Cost ($)
$600.00